[Bellavita]

When you think like a black person could be the answer.

It always amazes me that racists believe the civil war was about states rights. IT was about slavery and the right to own a human being. IT was for the North a fight to save the nation. The South seceding from the United States of America was treason.

No one puts up monuments for losers. They lost, they fought and lost.
Under your notion we should have a statue of Hitler, he lost?
Lets put up a few monuments for the Vietnamize Generals here in America because they lost.
How about we put up monuments for all losers.
Lets give out rings to the losers of professional sports after all they fought bravely to win the title.
Statues of confederate losers are to intimidate black people, pure and simple and it perpetuates hate. Like flying the confederate flag.
The Whitest sport in America NASCAR just banned confederate flags, kudos to them. There is no place to condone support of the confederacy, traders and slave owners. Period.
So yeah, as far as I am concerned Gen Lee had a chance to fight for the right side he choose poorly and he lost, rip down his statue in Gettysburg and promote the winners, blow up the side of Stone Mountain and stop paying homage to losers and traitors.

When you argue for these symbols you are part of the problem and not a good study of history.

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Put them in museums or private property for teaching moment and that if you think schools aren’t doing enough we all can pass on the history My mother took me around Boston and told me stories I . knew quite a bit of history before I went to school Traitors to this country should not be honored on there birthday I love ft Bragg I trained and operated many places In the world from there first as a soldier and later as a civilian . There are plenty of American hero’s that the fort could be named for not for a trailer. I can think of many men I knew personality soldier and civilian who died in some of the worst hell holes in the world who would look good up there at the gate way

[Rosebud1949]

You cannot and should not try to eradicate history.. but try to learn from it. However changing, removing, and renaming Forts, Bases and Statues etc will not change the divide between north and south, and B & W... you must meet in the middle. The future is what matters

[charlieo1126@gmail.com]

Sorry for your problem but you joined a state national guard and like many of my friends who were lucky enough to get in probably relieved as they were. It got harder and harder as the war went on to get into the guard. I thank you for your service and no disrespect but if you wanted to be a veteran you could have joined , all the services we’re happily accepting

[ALadysMom]

Originally Posted by jrg908369

As a southerner born and raised I always wondered why we named military bases after losing generals. And why we put up statutes to losers. Made no sense to me. I was a history major in college and a history buff and I don't see statutes of Hitler in Germany or Mussolini in Italy. They are embarrassed and did something about it. I guess you are also upset that NASCAR has banned the confederate flag and all confederate stuff from their race tracks?

Most people would agree that glorification the confederate flag was and is insensitive and wrong.

I think the earlier post about the relocating statues & other historical public art to a museum or another place where the person’s historical significance can be learned within the broader context of that period would much be better for future generations than destroying them. We risk eradicating future knowledge of the good, along with all of the bad. Future generations may be condemned to relive the past because of their ignorance. They cannot learn from what they do not know. It’s a shame that today’s young so much to learn about human imperfection & sin as well as about peace, forgiveness & respect. It’s easy for all of us to judge past transgressors without even attempting to put ourselves in their shoes.it’s not so easy to recognize our own faults and change ourselves. BTW some black people are far more racist than those the white privilege they condemn. Unfortunately racism and superficial judgment of others who are different is not a unique characteristic exclusive to the white race.

Ironically, the foundational American ideals of respect & justice for all is what many of our historical leaders imperfectly defended, earning them a bronze or marble likeness.

[sallybowron]

My son lives in the Lake Calhoun region in Minneapolis. A few years ago they changed the name of Lake Calhoun to some Indian name because President Calhoun was a slave trader. Talk about censorship!

[Number 10 GI]

Originally Posted by Singerlady

As a former teacher with many years of experience it is not that the schools are not teaching the students well. The students learn the material for the test but that does not mean that they necessarily believe it. Parents teach their ideals to their children and those beliefs are ingrained in those children. We can only do what we can do with the children. History teachers have them at most 50 minutes per day (high school). How many minutes do they spend with their parents?

Yes, the Nazis had the Hitler Youth and the Soviets had Komsomol that indoctrinated the young people in what was right and just.

[ALadysMom]

In many places, the South tends to cling to glorified representations of the civil war seemingly without consideration to the continuing negativity & pain slavery has actually caused but the ownership & oppression of others wasn’t uniquely perpetrated by male white colonial Americans. But we are condoning & perpetuating a falsely myopic perspective of human history now. Slaves historically were not always black. Jews & some Eastern Europeans come to mind as well as historically indentured or oppressed women and children. It’s too easy to focus on one situation and ignore the bigger picture.

Imagine if there were prolific public art or statues paying homage to England’s King George or to Spain or Mexico in locales that they previously owned and ruled before they lost them in wars or by purchases pre-America.

Truthfully, much of the South’s public art symbolism is weird & offensive to me, kind of like “the last great act of defiance!”

Do we know what the Cherokee Trail of Tears was? Do we actively rectify the perpetual—sometimes violent—oppression of women?

Why do the rioters violently destroy other’s property, with reckless disregard for others safety, yet they are ironically supposed to be protesting oppressive unjust violence.

[CatskillBill]

Apparently students aren't learning much about history. See the videos below.
It's really unbelievable that these people are so dumb.
If it wasn't so sad it would be funny.

Talking with Millennials - YouTube
Some Americans are ignorant and proud (S1E90) How much History do they know? - YouTube

Originally Posted by LG999

I dont see how or why opinions would be changed unless and until schools do. Children are not taught American history or civics in school. How can people vote when they have not been taught how our country actually works and why. I do not know if they are taught world history where they would learn the importance of the world wars. Instead, children are taught to be ashamed of themselves and of the US. Therefore it is reasonable to expect them to dismantle it.

[Number 10 GI]

Originally Posted by CatskillBill

Apparently students aren't learning much about history. See the videos below.
It's really unbelievable that these people are so dumb.
If it wasn't so sad it would be funny.

Talking with Millennials - YouTube
Some Americans are ignorant and proud (S1E90) How much History do they know? - YouTube

Our educational system is top notch! We rank 14th in the world, if I was an educator I'd go hide in a cave.

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by Windguy

Statues of rebel soldiers are inappropriate in our parks and what not. They were traitors and should be vilified and not glorified. If you want them to serve as history lessons, put them in museums that teach about the horrors of slavery and what happens when people stress our differences more than what we have in common.

Interesting. Maybe we should have Federal Laws to mandate what is permissible and what is not when expressing 1st Amendment Rights. We need to know exactly what we are allowed to have in our parks. The other day, I passed a pond in The Villages where I could only see white birds, and not one brown one. Shame on them, not being inclusive.
I remember when AG Lynch wanted to have a law against "hate speech" so that if one didn't like what another was saying, they could be arrested for "hate speech." Can't wait to see what new "ideas" the PC culture comes up with next. This is exciting, isn't it?

[Byte1]

Originally Posted by GoodLife

Slavery existed in the New World long before Europeans arrived. Native Americans conquered neighboring tribes and made them their slaves.

Looks like we're going to have to tear down any statues of them as well.

Totem poles must be eliminated, ASAP!

[Mickedamouse24]

By act of Congress in 1958 all soldiers/sailors who were members of The Confederacy are US Veterans and enjoy the same status as all members of the US Military throughout history!

[ALadysMom]

Originally Posted by LG999

I dont see how or why opinions would be changed unless and until schools do. Children are not taught American history or civics in school. How can people vote when they have not been taught how our country actually works and why. I do not know if they are taught world history where they would learn the importance of the world wars. Instead, children are taught to be ashamed of themselves and of the US. Therefore it is reasonable to expect them to dismantle it.

True story: When my son was in college he was required to go to a tiny local history museum. He needed a ride so I went with him while visiting. He had been raised with good morals & ethics, an honor student in the public schools. There was a little exhibit on the historical contributions of American women which showed inventions, Rosie the riveter, and the hard work & sacrifices of raising babies on the farm, etc. My son turns to me—his Mom—and says, “why did they waste space on this? Women have contributed very little. They should have a real history exhibit, like one about the wars.” I nearly collapsed. He is a caring, respectful (but obviously privileged) young man who did not even recognize how disrespectful, hurtful and wrong his indoctrination was. He explained that his history classes had focused exclusively on important events, especially on wars, because they had been such pivotal events in history. (Insert sad sigh here) I knew he was being accurate & honest but it was still painful to me. We went home & watched “What Women Want” with Mel Gibson for insightful humor.

Our kids’ elementary school tried to teach inclusion for kids with disabilities. Each able-bodied student took on a physical disability for a week then wrote a paper about the hardships & other surprises they encountered. It was transformative and reduced the bullying of disabled kids.

In a very similar way, it’s a shame we don’t better educate policemen about the way they are perceived. Training could let them become compassionate after seeing what it is like for awhile.

History shouldn’t be a tribute to atrocities and bad actors but we need to learn from them. What if we expressed gratitude that we have evolved past those awful times? A living history museum provides a detailed reminder that none of us who is living now can really understand what life was like back in the day so we should be reluctant to judge.

Negativity and destruction won’t incubate positive, lasting change. That’s why leaders like Martin Luther King and Billy Graham are so respected & revered. They got it. Positive change must come peaceably to last.

[ALadysMom]

Originally Posted by Mickedamouse24

By act of Congress in 1958 all soldiers/sailors who were members of The Confederacy are US Veterans and enjoy the same status as all members of the US Military throughout history!

Newsflash: That was the outcome of the Civil War. ONE United States of America.